Legislature: Preschool computer proposal advances

But education leaders object, citing other priorities

Feb. 19, 2013

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A proposal to pilot a home-based preschool program for low-income families won approval from a legislative panel last week despite opposition from education lobbyists.

A proposal by Rep. Jacqueline Sly, R-Rapid City, is modeled after a Utah program, which puts computers and software in the homes of 4- and 5-year-olds from low-income families. Parents must promise their children will spend at least 15 minutes a day working on programs that cover primarily reading, with some math and science.

“It’s been very successful in Utah,” where it costs about $1,500 per child per year, Sly said.

Sly received no supporting testimony during a hearing last week before the House Education Committee. Opponents included the South Dakota Head Start Association, which represents providers of the federally funded preschool program.

Kathy Cruse, the group’s executive director, said she applauds efforts to expand preschool opportunities. Head Start serves 5,800 children in the state, she said, but another 1,500 to 2,000 eligible kids go unserved because of a lack of funding. However, Cruse said her board doesn’t like the idea of a child learning alone in front of a computer.

“We’re against the basic concept of isolated, computerized learning … and rote academic exercises,” she said.

Linda Schauer of Concerned Women for America said unstructured play time is more valuable to the developing brain than computerized instruction.

Rob Monson, executive director for School Administrators of South Dakota, also opposed it. He said he likes the concept, but if the state wants to get involved with preschool, it should write standards and identify funding.

“We’re not funding our K-12 education system fully,” he said, and extending the state’s obligations into preschool won’t help.

The House Education Committee took testimony last weekand voted 8-7 Friday to advance the bill to the Appropriations Committee without a specific dollar amount. The committee’s four Democrats all voted against the bill, with some saying they need to put money back into K-12 schools first, including Ray Ring of Vermillion, who called it a “terrific program” but urged a no vote to send a message about education’s place in the state’s spending priorities.

“We need to fix what we’ve broken before we add the extras,” said Rep. Kathy Tyler, D-Big Stone City.